As soon as the ball is tipped off, Knicks veteran Jordan Clarkson starts to buzz.
Look near the Knicks’ bench and you might see him running to the back to stretch or riding the stationary bike.
During timeouts, he sways side to side or shakes himself loose.
Anything to do to stay warm and ready for when his name is called, which is typically near the midway point of the first quarter.
“When I’m called into the game, I’m already in the flow and warmed up just like everybody else,” Clarkson said Friday after the Knicks’ 116-107 loss.
Clarkson, 33, has perfected that routine during his career as he’s embraced his role as an elite bench scorer.
The Knicks realized during their run to the 2025 Eastern Conference finals that they needed more juice off the bench. Clarkson’s arrival in New York has been mutually beneficial for both parties.
Clarkson had been coming off consecutive seasons of decline in defense and his offensive efficiency.
But the 33-year-old, now in his first season in New York and 12th overall, has started to rediscover his groove.
Clarkson is averaging 9.9 points, two rebounds and 1.6 assists in 20 minutes per game.
His points and minutes are a career low.
But his defense and timely shotmaking have been a welcome addition for the Knicks.
Clarkson is shooting 43.9 percent from the field — his best mark since the 2022-23 season in Utah — and 31.2 percent from deep.
“He’s accepted that role and also accepted and embraced the defense side of the ball and trying to be more physical and more disruptive on the defensive end,” Josh Hart said. “So we need him. That’s why he’s here.”
In the NBA Cup final, Clarkson contributed 15 points and three 3s off the bench.
And two days later, on a night when the Knicks were down five players including three starters, Clarkson helped New York pull off a comeback win in Indiana on Thursday, recording 18 points with five 3s.
In Friday’s loss to the Sixers, he had nine points on 4-of-6 shooting in just under 16 minutes.
“Immediate spark. Immediate offensive presence, playing really well defensively, as well,” Jalen Brunson said of Clarkson. “What [he’s been] able to do for us so far this season has been tremendous and that’s just who he is. For as long as I’ve known him, that’s the type of person and player he’s brought to his teams that he’s been on and so very happy he’s here.”
Clarkson faced a career reckoning ahead of his third season in the NBA.
Then-Lakers coach Luke Walton planned to have Clarkson come off the bench for the 2016-17 season.
Clarkson could’ve looked at that decision in one of two ways: A demotion or an opportunity.
Clarkson decided to do the latter and his stamp now on the league is being a reliable role player.
He’s started fewer than 30 percent of his 780 regular-season games.
But Clarkson is seventh on the NBA’s all-time bench scoring list with 8,695 points, according to Statmuse.
It’s possible he’ll jump Thurl Bailey (who has 8,695 points) for sixth this season.
“I just know it’s a team sport. It’s five guys on the court. Everybody brings something to the game,” said Clarkson, whose career earnings are around $190 million, according to Spotrac. “So that’s my way of impacting it, it’s made me and my family blessed, so I just keep continuing to do that.”
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